Packaging

ABSTRACT

The disclosure concerns an improved storage facility for data-recording cards, discs, records and/or cassettes, including but not limited to CDs, DVDs, minidiscs, diskettes, digital photo albums, CD-ROMS, memory cards, records, and tape and video cassettes, and hereinafter generically referred to as “disks”. In particular, the present invention seeks to provide a storage facility which is capable of storing large numbers of disks whilst permitting convenient independent access to each disk stored therein. According to one aspect of the present invention therefore, there is provided a disk storage unit comprising a housing and one or more disk holders each of which is adapted for holding a disk securely such as to restrict movement of the disk within the holder, each of which disk holders is arranged to be supported by the housing in a retracted position in which a disk held by the disk holder is not exposed, each of which disk holders is arranged to be movable relative to the housing within the plane of a disk held by the disk holder into a deployed position in which a disk held by the disk holder is exposed for removal and/or replacement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an improved storage facility fordata-recording cards, discs, records and/or cassettes, including but notlimited to CDs, DVDs, minidisks, diskettes, digital photo albums,CD-ROMS, memory cards, records, and tape and video cassettes, andhereinafter generically referred to as “disks”.

In particular, the present invention seeks to provide a storage facilitywhich is capable of storing large numbers of disks whilst permittingconvenient independent access to each disk stored therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Data-recording disks such as CDs and DVDs are commonly sold and storedin cases formed from light-weight plastics materials. Jewel boxes, whichare widely used for packaging CDs, comprise a flat box having one ormore trays for holding CDs, and a hinged lid for opening and closing thebox. Wallet-type holders, which are also extensively used, meanwhilehave a number of pockets or trays for accommodating discs, which arearranged to be interleaved or folded together to close the holder, andunfolded to expose the pockets or trays.

CDs and DVDs are usually supplied either individually or in small sets,and so most CD/DVD cases are designed to accommodate no more than fivediscs, and very frequently no more than one disc. Thus, a collection ofCDs or DVDs may include virtually as many cases as discs. It is clearthat the storage of such a collection will require a disproportionateamount of shelf or cabinet space, as compared with the sizes of theactual discs involved. Furthermore, the extraction of individual discsfrom the collection for use can be a somewhat cumbersome operation, aseach disc must be separately accessed by picking out the appropriatecase, opening the case and removing the disc, and subsequentlyre-stowing the case. Clearly, where a number of discs are requiredsimultaneously, this can be a time-consuming operation.

GB-A-2,388,244 discloses a device for storing a plurality of compactdisks, the device having compact disk compartment elements which mayswing out about a pivot.

There is accordingly an outstanding need for an improved disk storagefacility, from which disks may be easily and conveniently removed and/orreplaced after use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention therefore, there isprovided a disk storage unit comprising a housing and one or more diskholders each of which is adapted for holding a disk securely such as torestrict movement of the disk within the holder, each of which diskholders is arranged to be supported by the housing in a retractedposition in which a disk held by the disk holder is not exposed, each ofwhich disk holders is arranged to be movable relative to the housingwithin the plane of a disk held by the disk holder into a deployedposition in which a disk held by the disk holder is exposed for removaland/or replacement.

In order to remove a disk from the storage unit, therefore, it isnecessary only to cause or allow the appropriate disk holder to movefrom the retracted position into the deployed position. Once the diskholder is in the deployed position, the disk stored therein is exposedfor removal. After removal of the disk, the empty disk holder may becaused or allowed to move from the deployed position back into theretracted position for stowing.

According to the invention, the disk holders are arranged to be movablewithin the plane of a disk held by the disk holder. For the purposes ofthis invention, the plane of a disk is regarded as the plane of itslargest flat surface; and movement of a disk holder within the plane ofa disk held by the holder is regarded as movement of the disk holder insuch a way that the disk is moved within the plane of its largest flatsurface. In many embodiments of the invention, the disks are relativelythin, having two flat parallel surfaces; particular examples of suchdisks being CDs, DVDs, memory cards and diskettes. In such cases, itwill be appreciated that movement of the disk within the plane of thedisk will constitute “edge-wise” movement of the disk.

Such disks may, of course, be moved in an “edge-wise” fashion into andout of a stack of disks.

Preferably, said disk storage unit may be adapted to store a pluralityof disks, such as at least two, or at least three, or at least four, orat least five disks, or between five and ten disks, or between ten andtwenty disks. In theory, there is no upper limit on the number of diskswhich may be stored by the disk storage unit, although in practice thenumber of disks stored therein is unlikely to exceed about twenty. Thedisk storage unit may thus comprise a plurality of disk holders. Eachdisk holder may be adapted for holding one disk or more than one disk.

Suitably, said disk holders may be arranged to be supported in theretracted position in one or more elongate arrays of disk holders; andeach disk holder may be individually movable out of said array into thedeployed position for exposing a disk in the disk holder and/orinserting a disk into the disk holder. Thus, each disk holder in thearray can be individually deployed without moving or disturbing anyother disk holder in the array. The disk holders in the array may bearranged to be parallel or substantially parallel with one another, suchthat the array forms a straight row of disk holders. Alternatively, thedisk holders in the array may be arranged such that the array forms acurving row of disk holders, such as a circular row of disk holders.

In favored embodiments of the present invention, said disk holders maybe attached to the housing. Preferably, said disk holders may bearranged to be movable relative to the housing by way of a pivotingmovement. Alternatively, or in addition, said disk holders may bearranged to be movable relative to the housing by way of a slidingmovement, or a lifting or falling movement, or a pulling or pushingmovement, or by any other type of movement.

Each disk holder may therefore be adapted to be fixed to the housing byway of any type of movable joint, such as a ball joint; or by way of anextendable arm; or by way of sliding tracks; provided that the diskholder can be moved relative to the housing between said retractedposition and said deployed position within the plane of a disk held bythe disk holder.

Where said disk holders are arranged to be pivotable relative to thehousing, the disk holders may conveniently be attached to said housingby way of a pivotable joint. Thus, for example, each disk holder maycomprise a pair of pivoting pins for pivotal engagement with saidhousing. In some embodiments, said pivoting pins may be fixed to thedisk holder and may be adapted to be rotatably engaged with said housingso as to permit pivoting of the disk holder relative to the housing. Inother embodiments, said pivoting pins may be rotatable relative to thedisk holder, and may be adapted to be fixed to said housing.

Alternatively, each disk holder may be adapted to be pivotably mountedon a spindle connected to said housing. Advantageously, where said diskstorage unit comprises a plurality of disk holders, said housing may beprovided with an elongate spindle and each of said disk holders may beadapted to be mounted on said spindle and to pivot on said spindle. Inthis way, the spindle will serve both as a basis for pivoting movementof the disk holders, and as a means for holding the disk holderstogether in the housing. Each disk holder may therefore comprise aspindle hole for threading the disk holder onto said spindle. Saidspindle hole may suitably be provided close to an outer edge of the diskholder.

Conveniently, said spindle may be arranged such that said disk holderscan be threaded onto or removed from said spindle as required. Thus,said spindle may be detachably connected at one or both ends to saidhousing, and may be arranged to be detached from the housing in order topermit disk holders to be threaded onto and/or removed from the spindle.Advantageously, said spindle may comprise two portions which arearranged to be coupled to one another for fixing the spindle to saidhousing, and uncoupled from another for releasing the spindle from saidhousing. Said spindle may, furthermore, be shaped such that each diskholder will be located on a particular portion of the spindle. This willserve to minimize lateral sliding of the disk holders on the spindle.

In some embodiments of the present invention, each disk holder may bearranged to be maintained in slidable engagement with each adjacent diskholder in the storage unit. Engagement of the disk holders with oneanother will serve to stabilize the disk holders relative to oneanother, whilst the slidable nature of the engagement will not disruptrelative movement of the disk holders. Preferably, the engagementbetween the disk holders may be substantially friction-free. Suitably,the engagement between adjacent disk holders will be such that the diskholders are to a large extent spaced apart from one another, and remainin contact only at one or more defined areas of engagement.

Advantageously, therefore, each disk holder may be arranged to nestslidably against the adjacent disk holder. Thus, each disk holder may beprovided with a nesting protrusion, which is shaped and positioned so asto engage a corresponding nesting recess on an adjacent disk holder;and/or a nesting recess, which is shaped and positioned so as to engagea corresponding nesting protrusion on an adjacent disk holder. In somepreferred embodiments, each disk holder may be provided with a nestingprotrusion on one face of the disk holder juxtaposed a first adjacentdisk holder, and may be provided with a nesting recess on the opposingface of the disk holder juxtaposed a second adjacent disk holder, thearrangement being such that said nesting protrusion is shaped andpositioned so as to engage the nesting recess on said first adjacentdisk holder, and said nesting recess is shaped and positioned so as toengage the nesting protrusion on said second adjacent disk holder.

Where said disk holders are adapted to pivot relative to one another,said nesting protrusion may comprise an annular raised portionsurrounding the center of pivot, and said nesting recess may comprise acorresponding annular recess surrounding the center of pivot. Thus, aseach disk holder pivots relative to the adjacent disk holder, thenesting protrusion will rotate within the nesting recess.

Suitably, each disk holder may be adapted to grip a disk such as torestrict any movement of the disk within the disk holder. This willensure that the disk is securely held within the disk holder and isprotected from damage arising from small movements of the disk withinthe holder. Said disk holder may therefore comprise a central grip forgripping the center of the disk, and/or a perimeter grip for grippingthe outer perimeter of the disk, and/or a surface grip for engaging thesurface of the disk. Said central grip may be adapted for engaging thehole in the center of a disk. Central grips suitable for this purposeare known in the art, and are used for example in CD jewel boxes. Saidperimeter grip meanwhile may be arranged for clasping the outerperimeter of a disk, such as to restrict lateral and/or rotationalmovement of the disk within the disk holder. Said surface grip maycomprise a pair of plates which are adapted to engage a disk on eitherside thereof, so as to hold the plate therebetween, or may comprise anyother releasable attachment means which is adapted for releasablyattaching the surface of a disk.

Conveniently, said disk holders may be adapted to be manually withdrawnor released from said retracted position into said deployed position.Thus, said disk holders may be shaped for manual engagement, and may inparticular comprise one or more shaped portions such as protuberancesand/or indentations which are shaped for manual engagement, whereby saiddisk holders may be manually withdrawn or released from said retractedposition into said deployed position. Said shaped portions may beadapted to be pushed and/or pulled by hand in order to cause or allowsaid disk holder to move from the retracted position into the deployedposition.

Each of said disk holders may be adapted for holding one disk, or twodisks, or more than two disks. Each disk holder may comprise a flattray, which tray may have a recess or cut-out portion that is shaped toaccommodate a disk, or may be adapted to engage a disk lying flatagainst the tray. It will be appreciated that a disk holder in the formof a flat tray will take up relatively little space. Moreover, such adisk holder will be readily maneuverable in accordance with theinvention within the plane of a disk held by the disk holder, becausethis type of movement, corresponding to edgewise movement of the tray,will encounter little air resistance.

Where the disk is circular in shape, said tray may thus be provided witha circular recess or cut-out having dimensions which match thedimensions of the disk. The periphery of said recess or cut-out may beformed with one or more “thumb-print” cut-away portions, in order toexpose an edge of a disk accommodated within the recess or cut-out. Thiswill facilitate removal of disks from the recess, by permitting the edgeof the disk to be grasped and/or levered out of the recess, whether byhand or otherwise.

In some embodiments, said disk storage unit may comprise biasing meanssuch as a spring for biasing said disk holders into the retractedposition. This will ensure that the disk holders will usually return toand be retained in the retracted position in the housing. Conveniently,releasable latching means may be provided for latching said disk holdersin the deployed position.

In other embodiments, said disk storage unit may comprise biasing meanssuch as a spring for biasing said disk holders into the deployedposition, and a releasable latch may be provided for latching said diskholders in the retracted position within said housing.

Advantageously, regardless of the presence or absence of any biasingmeans, said housing may be arranged for releasably gripping said one ormore disk holders in the retracted position. This will serve to improvethe stability of the disk storage unit, and to guard the disk holdersagainst accidental dislodgement. Thus, said housing may be provided witha grip which is adapted for releasably gripping said one or more diskholders in the retracted position. Said grip may, for example, compriseone or more releasable clips. Alternatively, said grip may comprise aresilient gripping member formed from a resilient material, whichgripping member comprises one or more recesses each of which is adaptedto receive a part of a disk holder in the retracted position, therecesses being shaped to receive and resiliently retain a disk holder inthe retracted position. Optionally, said resilient material may be arubber material, or a foam material. Conveniently, each of said recessesmay comprise a slit which is adapted to receive and resiliently retainan edge of a disk in the retracted position.

Conveniently, said disk storage unit may be arranged to be stored suchthat each disk held by the disk storage unit is vertically orsubstantially vertically disposed. Thus, where said disk storage unitcomprises one or more elongate arrays of disk holders, each array may behorizontally or substantially horizontally disposed.

Suitably, said disk storage unit, including said housing and/or saiddisk holders, may be configured such that when said one or more diskholders are supported by said housing in the retracted position, theunit is capable of being vertically stacked with other identical ormatching units. This will permit convenient handling and stowing of thestorage units. According to another aspect of the present inventiontherefore, there is provided a modular disk storage facility, comprisingat least two identical or matching disk storage units in accordance withthe present invention, which disk storage units are adapted for beingvertically stacked on top of one another.

When the disk holders of a disk storage unit in accordance with theinvention are supported by the housing in the retracted position,therefore, said unit may suitably present an upper surface and anopposing lower surface, wherein said upper surface is shaped to supportthe lower surface of another identical unit or another matching unit insaid modular storage facility, and/or said lower surface is shaped to besupported by the upper surface of another identical unit or anothermatching unit is said modular storage facility. Conveniently, each ofsaid upper surface and said lower surface may be flat or substantiallyflat.

Suitably, said storage unit may have a generally rectilinearconfiguration when said one or more disk holders are supported by saidhousing in the retracted position. In particular, said unit may have agenerally cuboidal configuration when said one or more disk holders aresupported by said housing in the retracted position. Alternatively, saidunit may have a generally cylindrical configuration when said one ormore disk holders are supported by said housing in the retractedposition.

In preferred embodiments, said housing may define an enclosure which isadapted to accommodate said one or more disk holders in the retractedposition. More specifically, said housing may comprise a box into whichsaid disk holders may be inserted for storage in the retracted position.Thus, said upper and lower surfaces of the disk storage unit mayrespectively correspond to the upper and lower surfaces of said box.Conveniently, said box may have a generally rectilinear configuration,such as a cuboidal configuration. This will serve to facilitate verticalstacking of the units. Furthermore, said box may be adapted to protectthe disk holders when the disk holders are in the retracted position.Said box may be formed from any strong and lightweight material, such asthick card or a plastics or low-density metal material.

In other embodiments, said housing may define a frame for supportingsaid one or more disk holders. When said disk holders are in theretracted position, the configuration of said disk storage unit may bedefined in part by the shape of said frame, and in part by the shape ofsaid disk holders. Alternatively, said frame may advantageously includean upper wall which is arranged to be horizontally disposed above thedisk holders and which constitutes said upper surface of the diskstorage unit, and a lower wall which is arranged to be horizontallydisposed below the disk holders, and which constitutes said lowersurface of the disk storage unit. The provision of such walls will serveto protect the disk holders and the disks stored therein.

Said disk storage unit may be adapted for storing any kind of datarecording or storing disks. For the purposes of the present application,the term “disk” includes, without limitation, data-recording cards,discs, records, memory cards and cassettes, including compact discs,minidisks, floppy disks and diskettes, CD-ROMS, DVDs, digital photoalbums, and tape and video cassettes for storing all kinds of data,including information, pictures, photographs, moving images, sound,music, videos, games, and programs.

Said disk storage unit or said disk storage facility may preferably besupplied with an outer wrapping or slip box, which may be decorated withsuitable identifying material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Following is a description, by way of example only, and with referenceto the accompanying drawings, of embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a disk storage unit in accordancewith the present invention, with one disk holder in the deployedposition:

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the disk storage unit shown in FIG.1, with all the disk holders in the retracted position.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a disk holder suitable forinstallation in the disk storage unit of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the disk holder of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows front (a) and rear (b) views of an alternative disk holdersuitable for installation in the disk storage unit of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) show respective right and left side views of anarray of the disk holders of FIG. 5 assembled with a spindle, whilstFIG. 6(c) shows a cross-sectional side view of a part of the array, asillustrated.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a disk storage unit 1 is shown whichcomprises a plurality of substantially identical disk holders 2 and arectilinear (cuboidal) box housing 3. The box housing is shaped to stowthe disk holders 2 in a retracted position, as shown in FIG. 2; and eachdisk holder is adapted to be withdrawn from the box housing 3 into adeployed position, as shown in FIG. 1.

Each disk holder 2 comprises a flat tray having a recess 5. Said recess5 is shaped to accommodate a standard compact disc (CD), and isaccordingly circular in shape, approximately 120 mm in diameter, andapproximately 4 mm in depth. It will however be appreciated that thepresent invention is not limited to the storage of standard CDs, butencompasses the storage of other types of data-recording media,including disks, cassettes and memory cards.

The shape and dimensions of the recess 5 may be varied accordingly toaccommodate any such disk, cassette or memory card, as hereinbelowdiscussed.

Said recess 5 includes a central grip 6, which is adapted forresiliently engaging the central hole of a standard CD, in order toretain the CD in the recess 5 and to restrict any movement (eitherlateral or rotational) of the CD within the recess 5. Central grips forresiliently engaging the central hole of a standard CD are known in theart, and are commonly used in CD jewel boxes and other types of CDpackaging. Such grips are capable of effectively holding a CD withoutdamaging the CD, and hence are preferred for use in the presentinvention. However, it will be appreciated that other types of grips,such as peripheral edge grips for holding the outside edge of a CD orother type of disk, cassette or memory card, may be used as analternative to said central grip 6.

As seen in FIG. 3, said recess 5 is formed with a “thumb-print” cut-awayportion 15 on one side thereof. The cut-away portion 15 is positionedsuch as to expose an edge of a CD which is accommodated within therecess 5. Thus, when a CD is accommodated within the recess 5, an edgeof the CD will be exposed through said cut-away portion 15, and may thusbe grasped and/or levered out of the recess 5, whether by hand orotherwise. This will serve to facilitate removal of the CD from therecess 5.

Each disk holder 2 is therefore adapted for securely but detachablyengaging and holding a standard CD. Such a CD may be placed by hand (orotherwise) in the recess 5, and pushed into the recess 5 in order topermit the central grip 6 to engage with the central hole of the CD. TheCD will then be firmly held and will be restricted from moving withinthe recess 5, by virtue of its engagement with the central grip 6. Inorder to release the CD from engagement with the central grip 6, an edgeof the CD exposed through said cut-away portion 15 may be grasped andused to lever the CD away from the recess 5 and out of engagement withthe central grip 6.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, said disk holders 2 are arranged to be stowedin said box housing 3, packed flat against one another in a parallelarray. As explained in more detail hereinbelow, the disk holders 2 arepivotably mounted on an elongate spindle 7 which is fixed to the boxhousing 3. Each disk holder 2 is arranged to pivot independently on thespindle 7 between a retracted position in which the holder is fullystowed within said box housing 3 (FIG. 2) and a deployed position inwhich the recess 5 of the holder is exposed (FIG. 1). Thus, the diskholders 2 may be withdrawn from the box housing 3 one by one, asillustrated in FIG. 1, such as to permit CDs to be loaded into theholders for storage and/or removed from the holders for use.

As seen in FIG. 3, each disk holder 2 comprises a spindle hole 12, whichis shaped to receive said spindle 7 in order to allow the disk holder 2to be threaded onto the spindle 7 for pivoting thereon. When the diskholders 2 are assembled with one another in a parallel array as shown inFIG. 2, the spindle holes 12 of each disk holder 2 are aligned with oneanother, so that the array may be threaded as a whole directly onto thespindle 7. Said box housing 3 also comprises a pair of spindle holes 14,which are positioned to align with the spindle holes 12 of said array ofdisk holders 2 when the array is stowed within the box housing 3 (FIG.2).

The spindle 7 is arranged to be releasably attached to the box housing3. As seen in FIG. 3, said spindle 7 comprises an elongate spindlemember 8, which is adapted to releasably engage a plug member 9 by wayof a male/female coupling. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, saidelongate spindle member 8 is a female member whilst said plug member 9is a male member; but it will readily be appreciated that these facetsmay be reversed, and indeed any type of releasable coupling between theelongate spindle member 8 and the plug member 9 may be used. Each ofsaid elongate spindle member 8 and said plug member 9 is formed with ahead 10, so that said members 8 and 9 can engage with one another toform an elongate spindle 7 having a head 10 at each end thereof, as bestseen in FIG. 6(c).

The length of said spindle 7, more specifically the length of saidelongate spindle member 8, is selected so that the spindle can bethreaded through an array having any chosen number of said disk holders2, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5-10, 10-15, 15-20, or more than 20 diskholders. In use, the array of disk holders is placed within said boxhousing 3, such that the spindle holes 12 of the disk holders arealigned with the spindle holes 14 of the box housing; and said elongatespindle member 8 is threaded through one of said spindle holes 14 in thebox housing 3 and through the spindle holes 12 of the array of diskholders within the box housing 3, until the head 10 of the elongatespindle member 8 abuts against the outer wall of the box housing 3, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thereafter, the plug member 9 is threadedthrough the other spindle hole 14 of said box housing 3, until the head10 of the plug member 9 abuts against the outer wall of the box housing3. The respective lengths of members 8 and 9 are selected such that inthis position, the female end of said member 8 mates with the male endof said member 9, thereby forming said spindle 7. It will be appreciatedthat the assembly of the spindle 7, disk holders 2 and box housing 3 maybe taken apart by disengaging said spindle member 8 from said plugmember 9, and withdrawing these members 8 and 9 from the array of diskholders 8 and box housing 3.

In use, therefore, the spindle 7 serves both to hold the array of diskholders together and to attach the array securely to the box housing 3.Each disk holder 2 can pivot independently on the spindle between saidretracted position (FIG. 2) and said deployed position (FIG. 1).

The spindle 7 may optionally be provided with external beading ortracking (not shown) in order to hold each disk holder 2 in a specificposition on the spindle 7.

In order to further stabilize the disk holders with respect to oneanother in said array, the disk holders are shaped so as to nest againstone another adjacent said spindle holes 12. More specifically, the frontface of each disk holder (FIGS. 4 and 5 a) is provided with an annularshoulder 20 surrounding said spindle hole 12; whilst the back face ofeach disk holder (FIG. 5 b) is provided with a corresponding annularnesting rim 22 surrounding said spindle hole 12. The inner diameter ofthe nesting rim 22 corresponds to the outer diameter of the annularshoulder 20, such that the annular shoulder 20 on the front face of onedisk holder 2 in the array can nest within the annular nesting rim 22 onthe back face of the adjacent disk holder 2 in the array. Furthermore,as seen in FIG. 6 c, the back face of each disk holder is also providedwith an inner annular rim 24 having a smaller diameter and a smallerheight than said nesting rim 22. The difference between the height ofthe nesting rim 22 and the inner rim 24 is however less than the heightof the annular shoulder 20. Thus, when the annular shoulder 20 of afirst disk holder A nests within said nesting rim 22 of a second diskholder B, the shoulder 20 of the first disk holder A will seat againstthe inner rim 24 of the second disk holder B, and a small space will bemaintained between the front face of the first disk holder A and theback face of the second disk holder B, as seen in FIG. 6 c. Thus,adjacent disk holders are held apart from one another, hence avoidingscratching or friction from arising between adjacent disk holders as thedisk holders move relative to one another.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the disk storage unit 1 is adapted to bestored such that the disk holders 2 are disposed in a vertical plane andare arranged to be deployed by way of a downwards movement from theretracted position into the deployed position. To assist with manualdeployment, each disk holder 2 is provided with a protruding tab 18,which is shaped to be grasped by the hand for pulling the disk holderdownwards from the retracted position into the deployed position.

In order to assist with retaining the disk holders 2 in the box housing3, a resilient foam padding (not shown) is provided inside the boxhousing. The resilient foam padding is attached to the inside top wallor inside rear wall of the box housing 3, and is provided with an arrayof parallel slits, which slits are respectively shaped and positioned soas to engage said array of disk holders 2 when the disk holders are inthe retracted position (FIG. 2). The arrangement is such that when anyone disk holder is pivoted from the deployed position (FIG. 1) into theretracted position (FIG. 2), the disk holder will come into contact withsaid resilient foam padding on the inside top wall or inside rear wallof the box housing 3, and will slot into a corresponding slit providedin said resilient foam padding. The resilient nature of the foam paddingensures that the disk holder will be clasped within the slit, and willtherefore be stably retained within the box housing 3. The foam paddingfurthermore serves to insulate adjacent disk holders from one another.When the disk holders are in the retracted position (FIG. 2), each diskholder is engaged with a separate slit in said foam padding, and henceis precluded from inadvertently knocking against and potentiallydamaging any adjacent disk holder in the box housing 3.

In use, the disk holders 2 will usually be stowed within the box housing3, as shown in FIG. 2. The disk holders 2 are thus protected by the boxhousing 3. The box housing 3 ensures that the disk storage unit isconveniently shaped and sized for stacking, either with other similardisk storage units, whether in an outer slip box or not, or uponshelves. Furthermore, the box housing 3 ensures that the disk storageunit may be easily handled and transported. The outer periphery of eachdisk holder within the disk storage unit may be labeled or decorated inorder to enable the CD stored therein to be identified whilst the diskholder 2 is retained in the retracted position.

1. A disk storage unit comprising a housing and one or more disk holderseach of which is adapted for holding a disk securely such as to restrictmovement of the disk within the holder, each of which disk holders isarranged to be supported by the housing in a retracted position in whicha disk held by the disk holder is not exposed, each of which diskholders is arranged to be movable relative to the housing within theplane of a disk held by the disk holder into a deployed position inwhich a disk held by the disk holder is exposed for removal and/orreplacement of the disk.
 2. A disk stroage unit as claimed in claim 1wherein said disk holders are arranged to be supported in the retractedposition in one or more elongate arrays of disk holders; and each diskholder is individually movable out of said array into the deployedposition for exposing a disk in the disk holder and/or inserting a diskinto the disk holder.
 3. A disk storage unit as claimed in claim 2wherein the disk holders in the array are arranged to be parallel orsubstantially parallel with one another, such that the array forms astraight row of disk holders.
 4. A disk storage unit as claimed in claim1 wherein said disk holders are attached to the housing.
 5. A diskstorage unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the disk holders are attachedto said housing by way of a pivotable joint so that said disk holdersare movable relative to the housing by way of a pivoting movement.
 6. Adisk storage unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein each disk holdercomprises a pair of pivoting pins for pivotal engagement with saidhousing.
 7. A disk storage unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein saidpivoting pins are fixed to the disk holder and are adapted to berotatably engaged with said housing so as to permit pivoting of the diskholder relative to the housing.
 8. A disk storage unit comprising ahousing and a plurality of disk holders each of which is adapted forholding a disk securely such as to restrict movement of the disk withinthe holder, each of which disk holders is arranged to be supported bythe housing in a retracted position in which a disk held by the diskholder is not exposed, each of which disk holders is arranged to bemovable relative to the housing within the plane of a disk held by thedisk holder into a deployed position in which a disk held by the diskholder is exposed for removal and/or replacement, wherein said housingis provided with an elongate spindle and each of said disk holders isadapted to be mounted on said spindle and to pivot on said spindle.
 9. Adisk storage unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein said spindle isdetachably connected at one or both ends to said housing, and isarranged to be detached from the housing in order to permit disk holdersto be threaded onto and/or removed from the spindle.
 10. A disk stroageunit as claimed in claim 8 wherein said spindle comprises two portionswhich are arranged to be coupled to one another for fixing the spindleto said housing, and uncoupled from another for releasing the spindlefrom said housing.
 11. A disk storage unit as claimed in claim 8 whereinsaid spindle is shaped such that each disk holder will be located on aparticular portion of the spindle.
 12. A disk storage unit comprising ahousing and a plurality of disk holders each of which is adapted forholding a disk securely such as to restrict movement of the disk withinthe holder, each of which disk holders is arranged to be supported bythe housing in a retracted position in which a disk held by the diskholder is not exposed, each of which disk holders is arranged to bemovable relative to the housing within the plane of a disk held by thedisk holder into a deployed position in which a disk held by the diskholder is exposed for removal and/or replacement, wherein each diskholder is arranged to nest slidably against the adjacent disk holder.13. A disk storage unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein each disk holderis provided with a nesting protrusion, which is shaped and positioned soas to engage a corresponding nesting recess on an adjacent disk holder;and/or a nesting recess, which is shaped and positioned so as to engagea corresponding nesting protrusion on an adjacent disk holder.
 14. Adisk storage unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein each disk holder isprovided with a nesting protrusion on one face of the disk holderjuxtaposed a first adjacent disk holder, and is provided with a nestingrecess on the opposing face of the disk holder juxtaposed a secondadjacent disk holder, the arrangement being such that said nestingprotrusion is shaped and positioned so as to engage the nesting recesson said first adjacent disk holder, and said nesting recess is shapedand positioned so as to engage the nesting protrusion on said secondadjacent disk holder.
 15. A disk storage unit as claimed in claim 1wherein said disk holders are be shaped for manual engagement, bycomprising one or more shaped portions such as protuberances and/orindentations which are shaped for manual engagement, whereby said diskholders may be manually withdrawn or released from said retractedposition into said deployed position.
 16. A disk storage unit as claimedin claim 1 comprising biasing means such as a spring for biasing saiddisk holders into the retracted position.
 17. A disk storage unit asclaimed in claim 1 wherein releasable latching means are provided forlatching said disk holders in the deployed position.
 18. A modular diskstorage assembly comprising at least two identical or matching diskstorage units in accordance with claim 1, which disk storage units areadapted for being vertically stacked on top of one another, wherein eachunit presents an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, andwherein said upper surface is shaped to support the lower surface ofanother identical unit or another matching unit in said modular storagefacility, and/or said lower surface is shaped to be supported by theupper surface of another identical unit or another matching unit is saidmodular storage facility.